Attorney

WINNER: Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. - Incumbent (D)

Attorney

Marcia Silva (R)

Attorney

Joseph Sinagra (R)

Chief executive officer, MyPlumber, Incorporated

In brief, what will be your top three priorities if elected (one sentence each, please).

Should the state provide more school choice for children, including the expansion of charter schools, vouchers for private schools and enabling children to attend public schools outside of their home districts?

Would you make any changes to how schools are funded by the state, including so-called Abbott districts and wealthier suburban localities?

Should the state continue to adopt regional planning initiatives to prevent sprawl, and if so, how should preservation be funded?

Do you support Gov. Christie's energy master plan or would you seek more lofty goals for conservation and renewable energy?

Experts say New Jersey's transportation infrastructure is crumbling. How should the state fund upgrades: continued bonding or borrowing, a gas tax, toll hikes or some other specified method?

What would you do to provide relief for property taxpayers -- for example, further program cuts, additional state aid and rebates -- and should municipalities and schools be forced to do more to regionalize or share services?

WINNER: Peter J. Barnes, lll - Incumbent:
I agree that charter schools can play an important role in some communities. However, I support the residents of the town voting on approving charter schools, rather than being approved by the Commissioner of Education.

WINNER: Peter J. Barnes, lll - Incumbent:
Yes, I support a more equal distribution of funding. Although a great deal of progress has been made, we must remember that people are struggling throughout our state, not just in a few cities.

WINNER: Peter J. Barnes, lll - Incumbent:
Yes, regional planning can be extremely effective in combating sprawl, especially in a state with 566 municipalities. Certain areas make more sense for development, while pristine areas should be preserved. We should not encourage every bit of space to be built upon in order to receive ratables. Preservation can be funded with bonds and better zoning laws.

WINNER: Peter J. Barnes, lll - Incumbent:
Renewable energy is our future if we are serious about sustainability. Unfortunately, this requires a large investment. However, if we do not invest now we are putting our entire infrastructure at risk in years to come.

WINNER: Peter J. Barnes, lll - Incumbent:
I believe a combination of bonding,increase the gas tax and increase of tolls are needed to upgrade our roads. We have roads in this state that are nearing 100 years old and are no longer adequate. If we do nothing at let these roads crumble further, the many problems that face our state will be exacerbated and may put public safety at risk.

WINNER: Peter J. Barnes, lll - Incumbent:
The state needs to do more to ensure a fair distribution of municipal and school aid, but the towns also need to implement programs that make sense for their communities. I do not believe the state should force a town to adopt a certain policy if its leaders do not believe it to be in the best interest of the local residents.

WINNER: Peter J. Barnes, lll - Incumbent:
I think both Democrats and Republicans need to recognize the other side does have valid arguments. If elected officials would actually listen to their colleagues rather than demonize them, a lot more can be done to solve the many challenges facing our state.

WINNER: Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. - Incumbent:
Develop legislation with both Democrats and Republicans in the leglislature to do whatever we can to get our citizens back to work.

Once and for all end our state's dependence on property taxes.

Properly fund our schools and public colleges

WINNER: Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. - Incumbent:
I am the sponsor of the legislation which requires voter approval before a Charter will be permitted to operate in our state. I do not oppose Charter Schools but the onset of "boutiqu